LONG BEACH, Calif. (KCAL/KCBS) — Donna Dubray is nursing cuts and bruises after a jet ski accident Sunday night off Long Beach.
“This scrape on my face right here on face. My arm is messed up,” Dubray said.
Jet skis collide in the water
Dubray and her roommate and longtime friend, 53-year-old Paul Carbullido Jr., had rented the jet skis in Long Beach. She said Carbullido fell off his jet ski after running into the wake of hers.
She said she jumped into the water to help him, but he was not able to climb back onto his jet ski.
“I was saying you have to swim. He was like, ‘No, no, no, don’t splash, don’t splash, the sharks are going to get us,’” Dubray said.
She tried several times to get him back on the jet ski but could not. She called the rental company for help, but the water got rough and Carbullido started drifting away.
Swim to the breakwater
Dubray decided to swim for help and made it to the breakwater.
“My whole body was shaking. I couldn’t even walk because my legs were just jumping. My teeth were chattering. I was so cold. I laid down on the rock and I screamed bloody murder. Help me somebody help me. Please,” Dubray said.
A good Samaritan in a boat found her and called lifeguards for help. That also began the search for Carbullido.
Coast Guard finds him the next morning
Monday morning, the Coast Guard found Carbullido floating in the water about three miles south of the Seal Beach Pier, nearly 16 hours after he fell from the jet ski.
He spoke to KCAL/KCBS from his hospital room Tuesday, saying his life vest helped him paddle all night. He said he was talking to God and was ready to give up before the helicopter crew found him.
Robert Carbullido, Paul’s younger brother, lives in Las Vegas.
“Me and my brother, we go back. We’re close,” Robert Carbullido said.
He said Paul told him over the phone that he took in a lot of water before rescuers found him.
“That’s why I’m in tears now because I appreciate all the emergency response team and the search and rescue mission and they found him,” Robert Carbullido said.
Dubray reflects on the accident
“I begged him to go jet skiing. It really took a toll on me,” Dubray said.
Dubray said it was her idea to rent the jet skis. It was the first time for both of them. She said she is grateful rescuers didn’t give up on her longtime friend.
“The relief was so great I just cried. I was so happy he made it,” Dubray said.
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